Hydraulic air-compressor



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheen 1f.

J. H'. HENDERSON xv E. SCHUTZ.v

HYDRAULIC A1B. COMPRESSOR.

Patented-May 17`, 1892.

u I /NVE/VTOHS:

-me Ncmms versus co., Haro-urna., wmnmaw, D. e.

s'sheets-sheet 2.-

J. E. HENDERSON sv E. SCHUTZ.A

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

No. 475,111. Y Patented May 17, 1892.

(No Model.)

WIT/VE 88E 8 Arm/mfr;

TH: News versus co., wow-mwa.. wunmvon, u.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet t3.

J. H. HENDERSON/s E. SCHUTZ.-

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

110.475,111. Patented May 17, 1892,.`

. 4w/rr/s/Essfs /NVENToHs I @www .4 TTORNEYS. A

improvement.

UNiTED TATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H.` HENDERSON AND EMILE SCHUTZ, CF SIERRAl CITY, CALIFORNIA.

HYDRAULIC AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,1 11, dated May 17',` 1892. Application led July 22, 1891. Serial No. 400,307. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN H. HENDERSON and EMILE SCHUTZ. both of Sierra City, in the county of Sierra and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Hydraulic Air- Compressor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hydraulic air-compressor which is simple and durable in construction, very effective and automaticin operation, and

arranged to utilize the force of water with the greatest advantage and directly on the air to be compressed.

The invention consists of two cylinders adapted to be alternately connected with the water supply and a water discharge, and valves automatically controlled from the water in the cylinders and alternately controlling the inlet and outlet of the water to and from the said cylinders.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 1n which similar letters of reference 4indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the motorfor actuating the inlet and outlet valves of the air-compressor cylinders on the lines m a; ot' Fig. 5. Fig. 3'is a p sectional slde elevation of a modified form oft the improvement. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a modified form of airnozzle, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the motor and air-compressor.

The improved hydraulic air-compressor is provided with two vertically-arranged cylinders A and A', connected at or near their upper ends with pipes B B', respectively, leading to a valve C, the valve-plug C of which contains an opening C2, adapted to alternately connect with the ends of the pipesB B. The upper end of the opening (12in the valve-plug C is arranged centrally and connects at all times with a pipe D, leading into a nozzle E, arranged to draw in air and water for charging the cylinders A and A alternately with air and water. The nozzle'E is preferably of the construction as shown in Figs. l and 3, .but may be ot' the construction as. illustrated in Fig. 4. l f

As showny in Figs. l and', the nozzle is provided with two downwardly-bent arms E and a E2, each containing an inwardly opening valve E3 to permit the air to pass from the outside into the'nozzle. The under side ol the nozzle is formed at thecenter With a funnel E4, held on the upper end of the pipe D, and into which discharge the branch arms E and E2. Into the top of the nozzle opposite the funnel E4 discharges the conical spout F 65 of a water-supply pipe F, connected with a suitable water-supply. .When water passes through the pipe F and discharges through the spout F into the funnel E4, then the force ot the water sucks in air through the Valves E2 in the arms E and E2, so that both air and water pass down the pipe D into the valve C, and from the latter, according to the position of the valve-plug C', into either of theppipes B or B', and from the latter into the respective cylinder A orvA. The lower ends of the cylinders A and A are provided with Waterdischarge pipes G and G, leading to a valve H, the valve-plug H of which is provided with an L-shaped opening H2, adapted to alplug C of the valve C, so that both valves C and vH are voperated simultaneously and in such a manner that when the valve C connects with the pipe B then the valve H connects with the pipe G', and when the position of the valves is changed then the pipe B con- 9o nects with the valve C and the pipe G connects with lthe valve H. Thus when one cylinder is filling with water and airrzreabove described, the other is emptying or discnsg@ ing its water through its respective pipe and\`,k i

the valve H.

Each of the cylinders A vand A is formed at its upper end with auxiliary cylinders A2 and A2, respectively, containing the pistons J and J, respectively, iitted to slide, and pro-A roo vided in their walls with ports J2 and J3, respectively, adapted to alternately connect or disconnect with the pipes K and K', respectively, extending downward and opening at opposite ends into the cylinder L, located, preferably, between the two cylinders A and A and arranged horizontally.

In the'cylinder L is fitted to slide a piston L', held upon piston-'rods L2 and L2, extending in Opposite directions, preferably of U shape, as plainly shown in tliedrawings. The ends of thc piston-rods L2 and L2 carry slidevalves L4 and L5, respectively, each provided with a U-shaped port L5, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. The slide-valves L4 and L5 are fitted to slide in the water-chests N andv N', connected by branch pipes N2 and N2, respectively, with a pi pe' N4, leading to the water-supply pipe F, previously described.

The ports LG in the slide-valves L4 and L5 are adapted to connect alternately the chests N and N with a 'cylinder O, arranged centrally on the valve-stein I, controlling the valves C and 1I, as above mentioned. In this cylinder O is mounted to revolve a waterwheel P, provided with a rim P', arranged concentric with the cylinder and connected by spokes P2 with a hub P5, secured on the hollow valve-stern I, above described. On the' rim P of the wheel P are secured on opposite sides the wings P4 and P5, extendingclose to the inner surface of the cylinder O, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. 0n the rim P' next to the` wingvP4 is arranged a port P5, leading to the interior of the wheel P, so that the. water can discharge from the cylinderOthrough the said` port P6 into the wheel P and from the latter through a port P7 in its hub P3 to the opening in the hollow stein I. The opening in the stein I leads to the opening H2 in the valve H, so that .water can readily be discharged from the cylinder O, wheel P, and stem I. Water from the vcylinder L can be dischargedv through branch pipes K2 and K5, respectively, extending from the pipes K and K', respectively, and opening into the cylinders A and A", respectively, near their lower ends, the inlet'- being controlled by valves K4 and K5, respectively, as shown in the drawings. y l f In the pistons J and J are arranged the floating ball-valves Q and Q', respectively,`

adapted to res't, when not4 engaged by water, on' the perforated bottoms Q2 and Q5, respectively, held in the pistons J and J'. The valves Q and Qk are adapted to be Vseated on openings J4 and J5, respectively, arranged in the top of the-said pistons JandJ',the said openings te-jg adapted to register Withopenings Il and R', respectively, formed in covers R2 and R3, respectively, held in the top ofthe auxiliary cylinders A2 and A5, respectively. The openings R and R are controlled by hinged valves R4 and R5, respectively, held on top of the covers R2 and R3, respectively, in the caps A4 and A5, respectively, secured on top of the cylinders A2 and A3, respectively. The caps A4 and A5 are connected by pipes S and S' with la pipe S2, leading to an air-reservoir to store the compressed air, as hereinafter more fully described.

The operation is as follows: When the several parts are in the position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the valve C connects the pipe D with 2 the pipe B', while the valve H connects the pipe G with the outside. Now When water is forced through the supply-pipe F it draws or sucks in air in the nozzle E, so that both air and Water flow into the pipe D through'the valve C into the pipe B' and into the cylinder A' to accumulate inthe latter. Vater inv the cylinder A can flow out through the pipe G as the valve II is opened to the pipe G.A Air passing into the cylinder A rises to the top of the-saine and passes through the openings J5and R',past the valve R5 into the cap A5, and from the latter through the branch pipe S' into the pipe S2, leading to the air-reservoir. When the water has lalmost filled the cylinderA', it reaches the float-valve Q', so that the lattercloses the openingJ5a`nd prevents further escape of -air o r water into the cap A5. At the same time the rising water acts on the piston J',lifts the same so that its opening J3 finally registers with the pipe K', and water can now iiow from the cylinder A' into the said pipe K and intoone end of the cylinder L to act on the piston L therein, so that the said piston is shifted to the left, thus causing the slide-valve L5 to establish by' its port 115 communication between the water-chest N and the cylinder O. The water from the supply-pipe F, passing along the pipe N4, can now pass into the cylinder O at one side of the wing P5, so that the pressure of the water against the said wing causes the wheel P to revolve, whereby the valve-Steins I and I' are likewise turned and the position of thevalves H and O is changed, the valve 'C connecting with the pipe G and the valve I-I connecting with the pipe G'. The wheel P makes about one-half revolution-that is, un.- til the wing'P4 strikes, the under sideof the slide-valve L5, which latter prevents'further rotation of the Wheel. The Water in the cylinder A' now discharges through the pipe G' and valve H, while water and air accumulate in the cylinder A. The other WingP5 now faces the-port side of the slide-valve L4, so that when the latter moves inward on the next change or return stroke of piston Lthe water passes into cylinder O through port L6 to press onto the wing P5 `to further revolve wheel P in the same direction. During this second movement of the Wheel P the water in front of Wing P4 is discharged through ports P6 and P5, and when the wheel comes to rest it again-assumes the position shown in Fig. 2; On` the next or third half-revolution the water between valve L4 and wing P5 discharges through port'P5 as soon as the valve L4 begins to move outward. The above-described operation isthen repeated-that is, the Vfloat-valve Q iinally closes the opening J4 and the piston J is moved upward to register by its opening J2 with the pipe K, so that waf IIO ter flows from the cylinderA to the left-hand end ot' the cylinder L to shift the piston L back to its former position. This movement of the piston L' causes the valves L4 and L5 to change positions, so that the water from the pipe N4 flows into the water-chest N and -into the cylinder O, thereby causing the wheel P to rotate in an opposite direction to bring the valves C and H back to their former powhenever a return movement of the wheel takes place. The ends of the cylinder Llikewise discharge their water through part of the'pipes K and K', respectively, and the branch pipes Y2 and K3, respectively, lead to the cylinders A and A'.

The air-compressor thus far described is principally intended to be used when the pressure per square inch in the su pply-,pipe F is equal to or greater than the required pressure of air per square inch in the airreservoir. In case the water has not the sufficient fall and pressure to counterbalance the required pressure of air 'per square inch in the air-reservoir the device is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this case the auxiliary cylinders A2 and A3 are extended about4 half-way down the cylinders A and A', as illustrated in the said ligure.

In the cylinders A and A' are fitted to slide the pistons T and T', respectively, having a central opening tting onto the auxiliary cylinders A2 and A3, respectively, as plainly shown. From the under side of each of the pistons T and T' extenddownwardly rods T2, connecting with the spider T3, fastened to a ring T4, fitted into the cylinders A and A', respectively. Vhen the piston T or T' is in a lowermost position-that is, atthe lower end of the auxiliary cylinder A2 or AB-then the ring T4 rests on the bottom of the respective cylinder, as shown to the left in Fig. 3, and when the piston T or T is in an uppermost position, as shown to the right in Fig. 3, the spider T3 rests against the lower end of the auxiliary cylinder A3 or A2. The pistons J and J' are itted to slide in the auxiliaryy cylinders and are connected by a' rod T5 with the spider T3, so that the said pistonsJ and J move simultaneously with the pistons T and T', respectively. are now controlled by the pistons T and T', respectively, instead of by the pistons J and J', as was the case abovedescribed in reference to Fig. 1.

The upper ends of the cylindersA or A' are provided with air-inlets, so as to prevent vacuum formingin the cylinders. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the air-inlets U and U' for the said The pipes K and K'V cylinders A and A' are provided with valves, asplainly shown in Fig. l, the said valves closing when the compressing is taking place.

In case a large quantity of water is available on either high or low pressure, the nozzle E (shown in Fig. 4) is preferably employed to mingle the air and water together, so that the two will have a greater surface bearing against each other, so as to take in more air, according to the quantity of water used. This nozzle contains an air-pipe E5, provided at its outer end with a valve E6 and extending to the center of the nozzle-casing into the pipe D. A small pipe E leads from the nozzle-casp ing into the downwardly-extending part of the air-pipe E5, so as to form a water-way through the center of' the air-pipe, the water entering the said pipe E7 at its upper end, which extends into the Water-supply pipe F. The

valve E6 opens to admit the air and closes' with the pressure ot' the water.

It will be seen that an air-compressor constructed in this manner is very simple and du rable, not liable to get out of order, entirely automatic in operation, and has its force of water acting directly on the air, so as to compress the same.

It will be understood that in casev the airl in the air receptacle or receiver has a pressure per square inch equal to the pressure of water at the nozzle E, then the compressed air counterbalances the water, and consequently all iiow of Water into the cylinders A and A' will cease, thus saving the wat-er luntil asuicient quantity oi" air has been withdrawn from the air-reservoir to reduce the pressure therein. The device then again will commence its operation automatically in the manner above described.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. An air-compressor comprising two upright cylinders, an inlet-valve for automatically controlling the alternate filling of the said cylinders with a mixture 'ofY water and air, and a supply-pi pe connected with the said valveand provided with an air-nozzle and a water-su ppl y pipe, substantially as shown and described.' f

2. An air-compressor comprising two upright cylinders, an inlet-Valve for automatically controlling the alternate filling of the said cylinders with a mixture of water and air, a supply-pipe connected with the said valve and provided Withanair-nozzle anda water-supply pipe, and a discharge-valve for controlling the discharge of water from the said cylinders, substantially as shown and described.

3. An air-compressor comprising two upright cylinders, an inlet-valve for automatically controlling the alternate filling of the said cylinders with a mixture of Water and' air, a supply-pipe connected with the said valve and provided with an air-nozzle and a water-supply pipe, a discharge-valve for con- IOO IIO

- air from the said cylinders, substantially as shown and described.

4. An air-compressor comprising two up# right cylinders, an inlet-valve for automatically'controlling the alternate filling of the said cylinders with a mixture of Water and air, a supply-pipe connected withthe said valve and provided with an air-nozzle and a Water-supply pipe, and a motor actuated from the accumulating water in the said cylinders and controlling the said inlet-valve, substantially as shown and described.

5. An air-compressor comprising two upright cylinders, an inlet-valve for automatically controlling the alternate filling of the said cylinders with a mixture of water and air, a supply-pipe connected with the said valve and provided with an air-nozzle and a Water-supply pipe, a discharge-valve for controlling the discharge ot water from the said cylinders, and a motor actuated from the accumulating Water in the said cylinders and actuating simultaneously both the said inlet and discharge valves, substantially as shown and described.

6. An air-compressor comprising two up,- right cylinders having air-discharge pipes, a motor connected with and alternately actuated froni the accumulating water on the said cylinders, inlet and outlet valves for the said cylinders and actuated simultaneously vfrom the said motor, and a piston fitted to slide in the upper end of each of the said cylinders and arranged to control the Water passing from the respective cylinder to the said motor, substantially as shown and described.

7. A hydraulic air-compressorprovided with a motor for actuating the inlet and outlet Valves and com prising a cylinder, Waterchests connected with a Water-supply, slide-valves arranged in the said chests to alternately connect the latter with thecylinder, and a Wheel secured on the valve-stem and Within the said cylinder and provided with wings,'substan tially as shown and described.

8. Ahydraulic air-compressor provided with Y a motor forA actuating the inlet and `outlet valves and comprising a cylinder, Water-chests connected with a Water-supply, slide-valves arranged in the said chests to alternately connect the latter with the cylinder, a wheel secured on the valve-stem and within the said cylinder and provided with Wings, a cylinder containing a piston controlled by the water ofthe compressorcylinders, and piston-rods connecting the said piston with the said slidevalves, substantiallyas `shown 'and described.

9. An air-compressor provided With a nozzle comprising a casing having a central tunnel, side arms leading to the said funnel and each provided with a valve, and a water-spout opening into the said casing on top opposite the said central funnel, substantially as shown and described. l

JOHN H. HENDERSON. EMILE SCHUTZ.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN B. OLDHAM, NEIL TARTINI. 

